Engine cooling system



June 22, 1954 R. R. HULL ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM Filed May 19, 1950 IAE UALum 27 25?' 25C @E i 05527' 1Q. HULL I N V EN TOR. W

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sure head in the outlet.

Patented June 22, 1954 ENGINE CODLING SYSTEM Robert R. Hull, Losl Angeles, Calif., assigner to Engineering Controls, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 19, 1950, Serial No. 162,993

19 Claims. l l This invention relates to an improved system for cooling internal combustion engines but .certain aspects of the present invention may 1947, now abandoned, for a Method and Apparatus for Increasing Heads in the Outlets from Steam separators.

Heretofore internal combustion engines have been operated with the cooling fluids heated to boiling temperatures to achieve many important f results, some of which may be mentioned, such as (l) the reduction of erosion or wear of the movable engine parts occasioned by the absence of condensate in the combustion chamber, (2)

allowing the use of low grade gases such as sewage ,d

gases to drive the engine, (3) the repeated use of the same cooling fluid without the possibility of losing any of the same, as well as other results. In such systems the cooling iiuid, usually water, leaves the engine jacket at steam temperatures and enters a steam separator, and then the cooling liquid is returned to the engine jacket either by gravity or under the influence of a pump, the steam being allowed to enter the atmosphere or to enter a condenser with the resulting condensate returned to the engine jacket, or the steam may be used to perform some useful purpose such as heating before entering the condenser or while in the process of being condensed.

In many installations of this type, it is desirable to maintain the pressure in the water outlet from the separator as high as possible, especially in those instances where it is impossible or inconvenient to gain the desired pres- This is particularly true where head room is limited such as in railroad locomotives, and in ships where the arrangement of decks or other equipment imposes limitations on the positions that the steam separator may assume. In other instances it may be desirable to develop a relatively high pressure in the water outlet from the steam separator to maintain a pump connected to such outlet, in prime, at all times. In other inits effectiveness lost.

(Cl. 12S-41.08)

2 stances, the pressure in such outlet may be utilized to confine boiling of the water to predetermined localities in the system to avoid the deposit of solids where such deposits are unwanted or may produce detrimental eiiects.

In engine cooling systems of this character, the cooling fluid passes through a closed system within which a predetermined amount of cooling water must at all times be present, otherwise damage may result to the engine intended to be cooled. Although the cooling water passes through a closed system there arises, in practice, the necessity of periodically adding water in the closed system to compensate for leakage and evaporation.

The internal combustion engine cooled by this system is usually called upon to deliver varying amounts of power extending over a considerable range and subject to rapid fluctuations, so that corresponding varying amounts of steam are generated by the heat of the engine rejected to the cooling jacket. These varying conditions have heretofore posed the problem of accurately measuring, at all times, the amount of coolant in the cooling system, especially since the relative proportion of steam to water in the cooling system is subject to wide variations. For example, before the engine is started up all of the coolant is in liquid form, and at full load a considerable amount of the liquid is in the form of steam.

It is noted that in systems of this type the water entering the engine cooling jacket is at substantially boiling temperatures and that, if for any reason the pressure in the liquid line leading to the engine jacket assumes subatmospheric pressures, the liquid therein may flash into the steam due to reduction in pressure. This condition of subatmospheric pressures in the liquid line leading to the engine jacket inlet is highly undesirable, since the pump in such line may become steam or vapor locked and The present invention is intended to provide an improved steam separator which produces relatively large pressures in Such conduit to prevent cavitation eIi-ects and resulting steam flashing therein.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a novel arrangement of elements whereby an internal combustion engine of the type arranged to have water circulating therein at substantially steam temperatures may be assured of having the required amount of cooling liquid in its cooling system at all times under varying load conditions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved system of the character described in the preceding paragraph characterized by the fact that such system includes a novel steam separator which allows this particular cooling system to be used in those instances where head room is at a premium such as on locomotives and on ships.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved engine cooling system of this character wherein the pressure in the outlet conduit leading from the steam separator to the inlet of the engine jacket is automatically increased with increased generation of steam under varying load conditions to thereby assure the delivery of the required amount of cooling uuid to the engine jacket without flashing of the heated uid into steam in such outlet conduit.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus whereby the pressure head in the water outlet of a steam separator may be increased so that the separator may assume a relatively low position with respect to the associated equipment and yet develop the required pressure in the outlet conduit leading therefrom to such associated equipment.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved steam separator in which the pressure in the outlet conduit therefrom automatically varies in accordance with the amount of steam delivered thereto through its inlet opening.

Another specic object of the present invention is to provide an improved steam separator of the character mentioned in the preceding paragraph characterized by the fact that such steam separator incorporates a novel arrangement whereby the amount of liquid in such separator may be Y determined accurately regardless of the amount of steam entering the separator or the pressure in its outlet conduit.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement for introducing make-up water into a separator Where liquid is being whirled and which is so arranged as to maintain the supply of liquid in the separator substantially constant at all times.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved system of this character embodying a novel steam separator structure into which make-up water is initially introduced and undesirable ingredients of such make-up water removed in the separator before such ingredients are passed through the engine cooling jacket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved steam separator in a system of this character wherein a cylindrical body containing hot water is swirled by the hot water entering the same tangentially to produce eicient separation of air, non-condensible vapors, and of course steam. The term non-cond'ensible vapors is used herein to designate those ingredients of the cooling fluid which may, for example, creep from the combustion. chambers through the gaskets and enter the circulating water or be absorbed gases, such as hydrogen in the make-up water, all of which are vaporizable in the steam separator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved steam separator in a system of this type which efliciently segregates the non-condensible vapors, as defined in the preceding paragraph, from the cooling fluid.

Another specic object of the present invention is to provide an improved system of this character including a novel steam separator wherein make-up water for the system is initially introduced, the structure and functioning of the steam sep-arator being such that salts of ternporary hardness in the make-up water are precipitated and segregated in the steam separator before entering the engine jacket.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved separator in a system of this character which generally produces a good quality of dry steam which may be used for related process work where a good quality of steam is desired.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken m connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a steam separator embodying features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 2 2 in Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the steam separator shown connected in an engine cooling system embodying features of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the tube E3 and shows the manner in which it is adjustahly positioned on the tank i6,

The engine cooling system shown and described herein includes the water jacket of the internal combustion engine 2 having the water inlet conduit 3 and the outlet conduit il. The out.- let conduit H leads to the steam separator d which has its outlet conduit i2 in communication with the intake of the pump 5 to discharge Vwater into the inlet conduit 3 thereby providing a primary cooling circuit comprising the engine jacket, the steam separator il, the pump 5. The

steam leaving the outlet conduit i3 of the separator 4 may either be allowed to escape or be introduced into the condenser 6 with the condensate being returned to the aforementioned primary circuit through the conduit l 2A in communication with space 153B in the separator il.

The separator d is in the form of an upright cylindrical tank it having its inlet conduit ii (Figures 2 and 3) tangentially arranged with respect to said tank so as to discharge the iniiuent, in the form of steam or water at steam temperatures, adjacent and tangential to the interior wall of the tank and above the bottom plate I9 to develop a whirling or rotary motion of the water therein above such plate I9.

rJhe water outlet conduit l2 is located in the bottom of the tank at the center thereof and the steam or vapor outlet i3 is in the center and at the top of the tank I6, Adjacent the top of the tank, and in the interior thereof, there is suitable steam reversing or mist extracting structure it. This structure i4 functions as a mist extractor for collecting the mist from the rising steam and returning it by means of a conduit IE to the water space in the lower part of the tank. The structure I4 may comprise a cylinder MA with an exterior annular flange H1B thereon welded to the interior wall of tank I0 to provide an annular space |4C. In order to produce a reversal in the direction of the mist there is provided an inverted cup-shaped struc- .is illustrated by the full line IG.

'portion of the tank I9.

,'ber. .chamber IEB is in communication `with a norture I 4D maintained above and in spaced relationship to the cylinder I 4A by means of supports I4E` affixed between the structure I4D and interior wall of tank I0, whereby the steam and mist is required to take a circuitous path as indicated by arrows IdF. The use of such mist extractors I4 and their particular design is optional so far as certain aspects of the present invention is concerned.

Under the elTects of the tangentially introduced influent entering the conduit I I, the water within the tank I Il is whirled; and, under the centrifugal action the mass of liquid assumes the general form of a paraboloid, the outer surface being essentially a paraboloid of revolution and Depending upon the amount of heat being developed in the engine and rejected to its water jacket, and resulting velocity of the whirling liquid, the upper surface of such liquid assumes other positions such as that indicated by the dotted lines I1 and |18. These dotted lines similarly each represent a paraboloid of revolution. It is understood that the three lines I6, i7 and I8 are merely illustrative of three typical conditions of the surface of the whirling liquid.

In accordance with certain features of the present invention, a shield or false bottom I9 is supported on the bottom perforated plate ISA of the tank beneath the inlet conduit I I and over the outlet I2 by a plurality of spaced radially extending baiiles 29. This shield I9 in the form of la disk, concentrically disposed in the tank I9, has its edges disposed in spaced relation to the walls of the tank I0 but the edges are nevertheless quite close to the walls so that the shield I9 substantially isolates the liquid in the tank therebelow from the whirling liquid above the shield. That portion of the liquid in the tank below the shield i9 is thus maintained in a relatively quiescent condition and the radial baffles 29 which support the shield assist in restraining this liquid from whirling sympathetically with that portion of the liquid that whirls in the tank above the shield I9.

It is observed that the conduit I2 has its upper end extending upwardly within the tank I Il so that its upper peripheral edge is contiguous with and joined to the cooperating circular apertured portion of the bottom plate ISA, to provide an annular chamber IDB at the bottom of the tank below plate IGA within which undesired ingredients cf the cooling fluid may gravitate and be cooled. Small peripheral apertures or notches ISB in the plate I9A serve to place the chamber 10B in communication with the upper interior The chamber IDB forms a trap for undesirable solids in the water; and because such solids may be fine material the liquid in chamber IDB is maintained in a very quiescent state by making the two diametrically disposed apertures or notches I9B of relatively 'small size.

These undesirable ingredients may, for example, be the precipitated salts of temporary hardness entering in the make-up water as well as other foreign materials which may enter the cooling fluid. These undesired ingredients and foreign materials may be conveniently removed from the chamber HIB by blowing out such cham- For this purpose it is observed that the mally closed outlet or blow pipe I9C, the pipe `I0C being closed off by the valve IIlD. The pipe IUC is in communication with the lowest point in the chamber IOB whereby fluid under pressure entering it and leaving the pipe IGC may efciently clean out the bottom of the chamber IQB.

If the liquid in the tank were not whirling, the static pressure at the outlet opening I2 is equal to that created by a column of liquid represented by the distance between the outlet opening I2 and the average height of the line I6. However, when the liquid is whirled, as it is, in inducing good steam separation, it moves upwardly against the walls of the tank under centrifugal action so that its top surface may assume a position represented by the line I8. The liquid under such circumstances has a vheight near the cylindrical walls of the tank that is considerably above the average height of the curve I6. The pressure at the bottom of the tank wall or at the locality where the side walls join the bottom end wall of the tank is consequently commensurate with the height to which the liquid has moved upwardly against the side wall. This pressure is transmitted through the space below the shield I9 and through the relatively quiet, non-rotating liquid therebeneath and to the outlet opening IZB. Thus, when the liquid in the tank is whirled to cause it to move upwardly against the walls of the tank, the pressure transmitted to the outlet opening IZB is materially greater than the pressure would be if the shield I9 were omitted. This is so since the plate I9 creates a zone wherein the liquid is relatively stationary. If the plate were absent, it is considered that the swirling water would produce a vortex and produce an yaspirator eiect near the liquid outlet tube, such :aspirator effect serving to reduce the pressure near the outlet tube.

In this way it is possible to retain the advantages of whirling the influent entering conduit II to secure good steam separation and yet obtain an elevated pressure in the outlet conduit I2.

When the liquid or water is thus whirled, the whirling is done at different speeds in response to different amounts of heat rejected by the engine to its water jacket. The lines i6, I1 and I8 thus represent, in that order, the conditions which occur when more and more heat is rejected to the water jacket to thereby progressively increase the pressure in the outlet conduit I2 to assure a continuous iiow of cooling water. These lines (or surfaces) I6, Il, I8 will be observed to cross each other at the same point (or the same circle) or very close to the saine point (or circle) which, for purposes of dennition is referred to herein as a node 2l.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, an adjustably positioned closed tube 23 is inserted radially into the tank within the liquid region of the tank and has a pair of oriiices 23A, '23B therein comprising a drill hole through a diameter of the tube with these orifices vertically aligned and disposed vertically bef' neath the node 2| or the locality where the lines Iii, I'I and I3 cross each other. This tube is connected through swivel connection 23F and iiexible conduit 23C to the lower end of a gauge glass 24 which, in turn, has its upper end connected to the open ended tube 25 extending radially inwardly into the tank I9 with the open end of tube 25 in the vapor or steam space of the tank.

The particular arrangement of the orinces 23A, 23B and their position with respect to the node 2l is critical and is of importance with respect to one phase of the present invention. The position oi the node 2l may, of course, be determined analytically or may be determined experimentally by positioning the tube 23 in different inwardly directed positions and observing the change in liquid level in the indicator 24 when and as the velocity of water swirling changes. When such change in indicated liquid level is inuenced in the smallest degree by changes in water swirling velocity, then the orifices in tube 23 are optimumly positioned. Once this adjustment is made, the tube 23, screw threaded in the wall of the tank i6, is locked in position by lock nut 23E.

- This node 2|, i. e., the point or line at which the family of paraboloids of revolution intersect one another is thus stationary with respect to the tank le, and, of course, the tube '23. Such paraboloids of revolution considered hereinabove are defined by the same volume of liquid within the tank it. In the event that the volume oi liquid within the tank were lessened, as for example by leakage or evaporation, the node 2| would, of course, then be in a lowered position, with the result that the level of the liquid in the gauge glass 2d, as represented by the liquid level line EAA, would also be lowered, to thereby indicate this condition. Similarly, in the event that the amount of liquid in chamber i@ were increased, the node 2i would be in an elevated position with the result that the visible liquid level line 24A would also be raised. Consequently, it is possible to indicate accurately the volume of water in the tank regardless of the rate oi whirling, i. e., whether the top surface oi respectively with opposite ends of the gauge glass 2d, with the center line of such valve in the same horizontal plane as the desired liquid level within the gauge glass 2t, so as to allow make-up water to flow through conduit 2l whenever the liquid falls below such desired level.

The valve 26 has its two openings in communication The outlet or conduit 2l is disposed below the Y shield plate is so as to be in communication with the quiescent body of water below such plate.

t is noted that the make-up water commingles with water at boiling temperatures when and as it enters the inlet conduit il (Figure 2), so that salts of temporary hardness in such makeup water may be precipitated and gravitate down Yor may be led to the inlet of the condenser E having its condensate return lines iZA in communication with the chamber iB. The condenser il is vented to the atmosphere by means of the tube EB which has its lower end in crnvmunication with theV interior of the condenser at a point above the condensate level C, whereby any air or non-condensible Vvapors may enter the atmosphere.

While the condenser 6 is thus vented to the atmosphere it may be located remotely from the steam separator @i and thus, desirably, the separator 4 is provided with a normally closed valve 5B in the upper end wall thereof which has a thermal responsive element serving to close such valve in response to the presence of steam within the separator. Thus, in the absence of steam in the separator, it likewise is vented to the atmosphere.

While the separator embodying some of the features of the present invention is most useful in conjunction with a steam and water separator, it will be readily appreciated that salient structural features and principles thereof may be utilized under other and analogous circumstances such as, for example, in oil and gas separators and the like. V

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

l claim:

1. 1n an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, said circuit including a vapor` separator having an inlet, a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet, said liquid outlet being in communication with said jacket inlet, said vapor separator inlet being in communication with said jacket outlet, said vapor separator comprising a cylindrical tank with the inlet positioned to introduce the liquid therein in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said inlet produces a swirling of the body of liquid in said separator, a circular plate positioned concentrically within and near the bottom of said tank, the diameter of said circular plate being substantially less than the internal diameter of said tank and said circular plate being disposed concentrically with respect thereto, radially extending baille members disposed below saio' circular plate, said liquid outlet being disposed below said plate and baiiles.

2. In an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, said circuit including a vapor separator having an inlet and a liquid outlet, a circulating pump having its inlet in communication with the outlet of said vapor separator and its outlet in communication with the inlet o said cooling jacket, said vapor separator comprising a cylindrical tank, said vapor separator inlet entering said tank below the liquid level therein and directed circumferentially or tangentially to produce a swirling of the liquid therein by the inuent entering said inlet, said tank having a circular plate mounted concentrically within said tank 9 and near the lower end thereof, said vapor separator outlet being in the lower end thereof, and radially extending baflies mounted on the bottom of said circular plate to prevent sympathetic agitation of the liquid below said plate when and as the liquid thereabove is swirled.

3. In anengine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said circuit including a cylindrical tank with its axis vertical, said tank having an inlet and a liquid outlet, said inlet extending into said tank below the liquid level therein and directed to produce a swirling of the liquid therein by the liquid entering the same, said liquid inlet being directed to produce a circumferential or tangential movement of the liquid entering the same, a `circular plate spaced from the bottom of the tank and being concentrically disposed therein to define an open marginal space between the edge of the plate and the interior of the tank, radially extending baffles disposed between said plate and the bottom end wall of said tank, said outlet `extending axially of said tank and being disposed below said plate and bailies whereby liquid entering said inlet and leaving said outlet must pass through said marginal space and between said baffles.

4. In `an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation` whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, said circuit including a `Vapor separator having an inlet, a liquid outlet, and amake-up liquid inlet, a pump disposed between said vapor separator outlet and said jacket inlet, said vapor separator comprising a vertically arranged cylindrical tank having its inlet disposed below the liquid level therein and directed to produce a circumferential or tangential flow of liquid therein whereby liquid introduced into said inlet under pressure produces a swirling of the liquid within said tank, said vapor separator outlet being disposed at the bottom of said tank and centrally thereof, a circular plate disposed within said tank above said outlet and deiining a marginal opening between its outer edge and the interior of said tank, swirling of said liquid producing different paraboloids of revolution of different shapes depending upon the rate of swirling, liquid height sensitive means including a closed tube extending inwardly of said tank and within the liquid therein, each of said different paraboloids of revolution intersecting substantially at a coincidental point termined the node, said tube having an aperture therein disposed vertically below said node a make-up liquid conduit, a valve connecting said conduit with said makeup liquid inlet, said make-up liquid inlet being in communication with said separator inlet, and said liquid level sensitive means controlling said valve.

`5. In an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said jacket having an` inlet and an outlet, said i described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine `jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, said circuit including a vapor separator having an ini-et, a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet, said liquid outlet being in communication with said jacket inlet, said vapor separator inlet being in communication with said jacket outlet, said vapor separator comprising a tank with the inlet positioned to introduce the liquid therein in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said inlet produces a swirling of the body of liquid in said separator, baffle means positioned within and near the bottom of said tank, said liquid outlet being disposed below said baille means, a source of .make-up liquid, liquid height responsive means disposed within said separator, said source of :make-up liquid being in communication with said separator inlet, and means responsive to said liquid height `responsive means for controlling the flow of make-up liquid between said source and said separator inlet.

7. In an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, said circuit `including a vapor separator having an inlet, a vapor outlet and a liquid, outlet, pump means, said lpump means having its intake in communication with said liquid outlet and the outlet of said pump means being in communication with said jacket inlet, said vapor separator inlet being in communication with said jacket outlet, said vapor separator comprising a tank with its inlet positioned to introduce the influent therein in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said inlet produces a swirling of the body of liquid in said separator tank, baiiie means positioned within and near the bottom of said tank, said separator outlet being disposed below said baliie means, the influent entering said tank swirling the liquid within said tank at different rates of speed to in turn produce corresponding different shaped paraboloids of revolution, the family of paraboloids of revolution defined by the same mass of liquid by swirling at different speeds intersecting substantially at a coincident node, a source of make-up liquid, liquid height responsive means having an apertured source thereof disposed Within said tank vertically beneath said node, means responsive to said liquid height responsive means for controlling the amount of make-up liquid iiowing from said source to said tank.

8. In an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat egceuelie' dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said ljacket having an inlet and an outlet, said circuit including a vapor separator having an inlet, a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet, pump meansY having its inl-et in communication with said liquid outlet and the outlet of said pump means being in communication with said jacket inlet, said vapor separator inlet being in communication with said jacket outlet, condenser means having its intake connected to said vapor outlet and having its condensate outlet in direct communication with the body of liquid within said separator, and the upper surface of the condensate within said condenser means being vented to the atmosphere, means mounting said condenser means above said vapor separator with the liquid level of the condensate in the condenser means being at higher elevation than the liquid level in said vapor separator whereby the condensate in said condenser means ilows directly to the body of liquid within said separator.

9. In an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket ineluded in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine,V

said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, said circuit including a vapor separator having an inlet and a liquid outlet, said liquid outlet being in communication with said jacket inlet, said vapor separator inlet being in communication 'with said jacket outlet, said vapor separator comprising a tank with the inlet positioned to intro-duce the liquid therein in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said inlet produces a swirling of the body oi liquid in said separator, said tank including a sedimentation chamber disposed below the liquid outlet of said separator.

lo. In an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation oi the engine, said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, said circuit including a vapor separator having an inlet and a liquid outlet, said liquid outlet being in communication with said jacket inlet, said vapor separator inlet being in communication with said jacket outlet, said vapor separator comprising a tank with its inlet positioned to introduce liquid therein in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said inlet produces a swirling of the body of liquid in said separator, baille means positioned within and near the bottom oi said tank, the liquid outlet of said separator being disposed below said baille means.

ll. In an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the` engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said jacket having an inlet and Van outlet, said circuit including a Vapor sepa- 20 Y' normal operation of the engine and wherein said separator comprising a tank with its inlet positioned to introduce the liquid therein in a cir'- cumierential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said inlet produces a swirling of the body of liquid in said separator, baille means positioned within and near the bottom of said tank, said liquid outlet of said separator being disposed below said baille means, said tank including a sedimentation chamber disposed below said baille means and below said liquid outlet of said vapor separator, said sedimentation chamber being in communication with said body oi' swirling liquid.

l2. rFhe subcombination,v for specic use in an engine cooling system of a character wherein an engine has its cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heatedY therein to substantially vapor temperatures in jacket has an inlet and an outlet, said subcombination comprising a vapor separator having an inlet and a liquid outlet, said vapor separator comprising a tank with its inlet positioned to introduce liquid therein in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said inlet produces a swirling of liquid in the body or" said separator; baille means positioned within and near the bottom of said tank, the liquid outlet of said separator being disposed below said baille means.

i3. The subcombination for specific use in an engine cooling system wherein an engine has a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling cir- `cuit oi limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation oi' the engine, said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, the subcombination comprising a vapor separatorV having an inlet and a liquid outlet said liquid outlet being adapted for connecting with said jacket inlet, said vapor separato-r inlet being adapted for connection with said jacket outlet, said vapor separator comprising a tank with the inlet positioned to introduce liquid therein in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid' ente-ring said inlet produces a swirling of the body'of liquid in saidV separator, said tank including a sedimentation chamber disposed below the liquid outlet of said separator.

14. The subcombination for specific use in an engine cooling system of the character wherein an engine has its cooling jacket included in a :liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipationV whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, the subcornbination comprising a vapor separator having an inlet and a liquid outlet, said liquid outlet being connectible with said jacket inlet, said vapor separator inlet being connectible with said jacket outlet, said vapor separator including a 'tank with its inlet positioned to introduce the liquid therein in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said inlet produces a swirling of liquid within the body of said separator baille means positioned within and near the bottom of said tank, said liquid outlet of said separator' being disposed below said baille means, said tankV containing a sedimentation chamber disposed below said baille means and below said liquid outlet of said vapor separator, said sedimentation chamber being in communication with said body of swirling liquid.

15. The system set forth in claim 8 in which said vapor separator inlet is positioned to introduce liquid in said vapor separator in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said inlet produces a swirling of the body of liquid in said separator.

.16. The system set forth in claim 15 in which said separator comprises a tank, baille means positioned within and near the bottom of said tank, said tank including a sedimentation chamber disposed below said baille means and below said liquid outlet of said vapor separator, said sedi mentation chamber being in communication with said body of swirling liquid.

17. In an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of said engine, said jacket having an inlet and an outlet, said circuit including a vapor separator having an inlet and a liquid outlet, said liquid outlet being in communication with said jacket inlet, said vapor separator inlet being in communication with said jacket outlet, said vapor separator comprising a tank with its inlet positioned to introduce the liquid therein in a circumferential or tangential direction whereby the liquid entering said liquid inlet produces a swirling of the body of the liquid in said separator, baiie means positioned within and near the bottom of said tank, said tank including a sedimentation chamber disposed below said baille means and below said liquid outlet of said vapor separator, said sedimentation chamber being in communication with said body of swirling liquid.

18. The system set forth in claim 17 in which said tank comprises a cylindrical tank having its longitudinal axis extending in a vertical plane, the liquid entering said tank inlet serving to swirl the liquid within said tank at different rates of speed to in turn produce corresponding difierent shaped paraboloids of revolution, the family of paraboloids of revolution dened by the same mass of liquid by swirling at different speeds intersecting substantially at a coincident node, liquid height responsive means including a tube having an orifice therein, means mounting said tube on said tank with the end extending into said tank and with said orifice disposed vertically beneath said node and with said "node and said orice in the same Vertical plane.

19. In an engine cooling system of the character described, an engine having a cooling jacket included in a liquid cooling circuit of limited heat dissipation whereby the liquid in the engine jacket is heated therein to substantially vapor temperatures in normal operation of the engine, said jacket having an inlet and 'an outlet, said circuit including a vapor separator having an inlet, a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet, said liquid outlet being in communication with said jacket inlet, said vapor separator inlet being in communication with said jacket outlet, said vapor separator including means whereby an agitation of the body of liquid in said Separator is produced, baiile means positioned within and near the bottom of said separator, the liquid outlet of said separator being disposed below said bailie means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 719,424 Berger Feb. 3, 1903 1,630,068 Muir May 24, 1927 1,658,934 Muir Feb. 14, 1928 1,709,372 Pope, Jr. Apr. 16, 1929 1,766,666 Meyer June 214, 1930 2,009,284 Warner July 23, 1935 2,106,589 Bigger et al Jan. 25, 1938 2,200,620 Findley May 14, 1940 2,417,591 Du Rostu Mar. 18, 1947 

